Watertight Headphones Reviews
1. Plantronics BackBeat FIT
Whether you want to wear them when you are training, swimming, working, or just walking, the BackBeat FIT is ideal as it can be worn in all conditions. What recommends it is the high water and dust resistance rating. The eartip has an open design that ensures you won’t be oblivious to your surroundings, thus helping you stay safe. Designed with flexibility in mind, you are sure to wear them for hours on end without feeling discomforted, getting the boost in proactivity that only listening to music can offer.
Water Resistance
As it boasts an IP57 water resistance rating, you can wear it when you swim or when you work out and you know that you are going to sweat excessively. What this rating shows is that it can resist in fresh water up to one meter deep for approximately 30 minutes. Just make sure you don’t wear it when you swim in salt water and don’t exceed the 1-meter limit as the pressure will inevitably produce damage.
Runtime
What provides them with power is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that is non-replaceable. It takes a maximum of two hours for it to completely charge, and when it is full of “juice”, it allows you to listen to music for up to 8 hours without interruption, and talk on the phone for approximately 6 hours. Another aspect worth knowing is that when they are set on the standby mode, they provide up to 14 days of runtime.
Mention Worthy Features and Specs
- Integrated on-ear controls provide a convenient manner to turn the volume up or down, answer calls, and choose songs.
- P2i nano-coating is what enhances their sweat and water resistance.
- Available in 5 different color options to suit your style – fuchsia, power blue, stealth green, sport grey, black.
Comfort
Comfort is a quintessential aspect to consider as it shows whether or not you will actually like wearing the earbuds when doing various activities. As aforementioned, their design is quite flexible, which means that you can share them with others if you choose so, and that they are sure to fit you comfortably without slipping. To make sure that the tip will remain in your ear throughout your music listening session, it features silicon covering and a small loop.
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CONS
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- IP57 rating withstands heavy rain or other unfavorable conditions
- Battery provides up to 8 hours of continuous music
- Quick charge feature boosts battery power in only 15 minutes
- Features P2i nano-coating which further enhances its weatherproof characteristics
- Behind the ear design is very comfortable
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- Some users report that the fit is not as snug as they wished it would be
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| VERDICT
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As it is comfortable to wear and it provides more than enough listening time, the BackBeat headset is our top recommendation to music lovers. Furthermore, as opposed to other products which only promise to deliver water proofing but in reality fail to do so, it actually boasts an IP57 rating, and features a P2i nano-coating that does not allow issues to arise if you are wearing it while swimming, for example.
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For when you are doing intense workouts, running at a fast pace, or swimming, and you want to enjoy quality music, the HX250 are what you need. They are rated IPX7, which means that you can confidently rely on them to not suffer any type of damage when you submerge them under water. One of the most important features that they present is the fact that they come with the Bluetooth 4.2 technology, delivering crystal clear audio and a phenomenal bass from the device that you want to pair them with.
Another important trait is the fact that they feature noise cancellation. Thus, you won’t be interrupted by nuisances when listening to music as you won’t hear the loud noises surrounding you. This feature alone adds to the versatility in use as it makes them ideal for those who travel by plane often and who want to enjoy a soothing flight, allowing them to doze off as they won’t hear people talking or babies crying.
The high-quality battery featured fully charges in less than 2 hours, so not a lot of time will be lost on this task. Also, considering the fact that they deliver approximately 8 continuous hours of listening to music, you won’t have to recharge the depleted battery too often. When it comes to their compatibility, know that they work with all Android smartphones, iPhones, and iPads.
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CONS
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- Delivers a maximum playback time of up to 8 hours on a full battery
- High strength for use while swimming granted by its IPX7 rating
- Internal memory card allows you to upload music on it so that you do not rely solely on Bluetooth transmission
- Comes with a complete set of accessories
- Backed by an industry-leading 2-year warranty
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- Not the best option for those who like the bass
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Due to the fact that it is more than capable of cancelling exterior noise, all while boasting a highly weather and water proof design, you will be able to listen to your favorite music and nothing more in peace regardless of the activity you are performing. Moreover, it provides up to 8 hours of listening time on a full charge.
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The state of the art acoustic components of the A-1 produced by TrendHolders are just what a picky person needs as they ensure the production of an incredible sound quality. What makes them so appealing is the fact that they deliver a crystal clear treble and a deep bass, allowing you to listen to your favorite songs like never before. The comfortable and secure fit that they deliver makes them ideal for prolonged wear, not discomforting your ears in any way.
The ear hooks feature gel flex silicone earbuds that add to the comfort of wearing them, and they are ergonomically designed to stay firm without being unpleasant to wear. The IPX7 rating that they boast is proof enough of the quality of their waterproof design. Due to the fact that they feature the Bluetooth 4.1 wireless technology, they allow you to seamlessly connect to smart devices such as smartphones and tablets that are up to 30 feet away.
The noise suppression technology featured by the device allows you to take calls without skipping or missing parts of your favorite songs. It features a lithium-ion polymer battery that takes 1-2 hours to fully charge and that provides up to 12 hours of runtime when listening to music. Designed to not get tangled, you won’t have any issue putting them on as soon as you want to listen to music. In addition, the on-ear volume controls allow you to easily turn the volume up or down, change songs, answer or reject calls, and so on.
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CONS
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- Takes only 1 to 2 hours for the battery to fully charge
- On-ear volume control ensures a convenient use of the product
- On a full battery, you are provided with up to 12 hours of runtime
- Bluetooth technology allows you to conveniently listen to music off of your smartphone or tablet
- Comfortable fit ensures you can wear them for hours on end without feeling any discomfort
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| VERDICT
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Reasonably priced yet highly qualitative, this is your go-to chocie if you want to enjoy long music listening sessions, regardless if you go take a swim or you just walk around town. The 12 hours of runtime provided are more than enough, and seeing how in less than 2 hours a full recharge is provided, no time is lost with them.
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Active people need earbuds that are able to keep up with their lifestyle, and the Edelin1 delivers just that. The IPX7 rating ensures that regardless of the type of activity that you will be performing, you will be able to listen to music or podcasts in peace. Another strong point boasted by them is the fact that they do not get tangled. Therefore, you won’t have to sit in fear that they might get tangled beyond repair when you put them in the pocket.
The headset uses the Bluetooth 4.1 connection that guarantees a fast data transfer and that allows you to connect to devices that are up to 30 feet away in order to listen to podcasts or music. Just like the other entries in our top, it is powered by a lithium-ion polymer battery. The charge time for this battery is approximately 1 hour and a half, and it delivers about 8 hours of continuous listening to music and about 6 hours of talking on the phone.
The multiple device connection feature it comes with allows the simultaneous connection to up to 2 different smart devices. It features a LED indicator light that announces you when the battery is running low on power so that you know to recharge it at the right moment. Last but not least, the manufacturer, Edelin, backs the product during the first year after you purchase it, so you won’t have to worry about paying to fix or replace it in this period.
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CONS
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- Great asking price makes them quite affordable
- Comes with ear tips in 3 different sizes – small, medium, large
- Up to 8 hours of music listening
- Features a LED indicator which announces you when the battery is running out of power
- Comes with a cord management clip which ensures tangling or discomfort while wearing them won’t occur
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- A few customers report that the music skips when they do sudden head movements
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| VERDICT
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Designed according to the latest standards in safety and innovation, these ear buds our one of our top recommendations. Their Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity allows data transfer and communication with ease, while the design endorses carefree use in the pool or when it rains. Best of all, the reasonable and low asking price makes them a real bargain.
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The IPX7 rating along with the nano-coating of the earbuds makes them the perfect purchase for a person who wants to listen to music when swimming or doing intense workouts. What you will surely like is the fact that the battery used charges in only 2 hours, tops, so not a lot of time will be spent without them when their battery does deplete. Additionally, when fully charged, the battery provides 12 hours of listening time, which makes them perfect even for long flights where you want to relax and unwind, not hearing the annoying noise around you.
Due to the fact that they feature noise cancellation as well, the blocking of disruptive external noises is even further enhanced. The amazing treble and the deep bass are sure to impress you no matter the type of music that you usually like to listen to. The Bluetooth 4.1 technology that they feature allows a seamless synchronization to wireless devices such as tablets, Android smartphones, and iOS smartphones that are up to 33 feet away.
The on-ear volume controls allow you to change the volume, skip or shuffle songs, and answer or decline calls with ease. When it comes to the support offered by the manufacturer for them, know that they will be fixed or replaced free of charge during the first year after you purchase them.
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CONS
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- CVC 6.0 noise suppression technology allows you to focus on the music you are listening to instead of environmental nuisances
- 360-degree adjustable ear hooks ensure they will sit secure behind your ears
- On a full charge, you can listen to music for up to 12 hours
- Wireless reception and transmission over a 33-foot range
- Selectable bass levels allow you to enjoy listening to music as you prefer
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- Some people have reported a rather uncomfortable feeling after wearing them for prolonged hours
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In terms of pricing, it does not get better than these wearables. Furthermore, despite what you might think when you check out the price tag, they are actually quite qualitative, boasting an IPX7 rating and a secure design.
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Using state of the art acoustic components, the Senso are ideal for listening to music as they produce incredible sound quality. Best of all, they deliver this impressive sound output all while maintaining a cheap asking price. The comfortable fit they provide ensures you won’t feel any discomfort even after hours of listening to music with their help. Of course, we must mention the fact that they have an IPX-7 rating which makes them safe to wear even when you are swimming.
The long battery life is one of the aspects which greatly impressed us as when listening to music, they provide up to 8 hours of continuous entertainment until a recharge is required. When set on standby, the battery lasts for a staggering 240 hours. In addition, it only takes an hour and a half for the lithium polymer battery to charge, so you won’t waste much time on this boring task, being able to quickly return to your song list.
They feature the ingenious Noise Suppression technology which enhances music listening experience quality by blocking out external disruptive noises. Another mention worthy feature is the Bluetooth 4.1 tech that allows you to connect with other Bluetooth devices which are up to 30 feet away in order to stream music or radio off of them. Furthermore, the product is backed with a 1-year warranty by the manufacturing company.
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CONS
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- Takes only one hour and a half for the battery to fully charge
- On a full charge, you are provided with up to 8 hours of continuous music listening time
- Ergonomic design and gel flex silicone ear buds design makes them truly comfortable to wear
- Features the Noise Suppression technology which focuses on the music you are listening, suppressing external noises which might downgrade the quality of your experience
- Great asking price makes it one of the most affordable entries on this market
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Feature-rich yet still affordable, the Senso are your go-to option if you want a qualitative music listening experience regardless of where you are, even at the pool, all without having to spend a fortune in order to enjoy this experience.
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The flexible and snug fit provided makes them perfect for all active people who love music. The IPX7 rating ensures that you can listen to your favorite jams even during intense sweat sessions or when it’s raining outside, without any repercussions. To charge them, it takes only one hour and a half, and on a full charge, you are provided with up to 9 hours of continuous play.
As they feature the CVC 6.0 noise reduction technology, when you listen to music while wearing them, all external noise is blocked. The 33-foot wireless operating range ensures that you can go further away from your phone without the music being interrupted. They are Bluetooth 4.1 compatible, which makes them even more versatile in use.
The shallow in-ear design and soft memory foam on the ear tips ensure a secure fit all while maintaining comfort. As an extra perk, the manufacturing company backs them with a lengthy 18-month warranty.
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CONS
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- IPX7 water resistance rating
- A full charge takes only one hour and a half
- You are provided with 7-9 hours of continuous play when the battery is full
- 33-foot operating range
- Backed by an 18-month warranty
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For the music lover who wants to maintain an active lifestyle, these IPX7 rated earbuds are a must-have. Not only do they come at a cheap price, but they provide up to 9 hours of continuous play when fully charged. Best of all, charging the battery takes only one hour and a half, so not a lot of time is wasted before they can be used again.
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Highlighting Important Traits
Who does not love listening to music, right? It is one of the best ways to relax and unwind, especially for those who have stressful jobs. For years now, we have been used to listening to music in the same way – with the help of headphones. But the devices were limited as they could not be worn in all circumstances. Fortunately, things have changed now as technology has evolved, existing modern earbuds that make it more convenient than ever to enjoy music regardless of the activity that you are performing.
In the past, those who wanted to listen to music when they were swimming or doing intense workouts that made them sweat were not capable to do so as earbuds were not water or sweat proof, getting damaged irremediably when entering into contact with them. Fortunately for us, we now have a wide range of water-resistant earbuds to pick from, devices that allow people who find it relaxing to swim or work out in their spare time to listen to music without interrupting these activities.
What is even more remarkable is the fact that the sound quality of the music that they deliver is not affected at all by the underwater environment, which is a significant tech advancement as the pressure should have normally caused the sound to suffer distortions. Most high-quality devices of this king allow people to go approximately 10 feet in the water while maintaining their performance at its peak. Best of all, the fact that they are waterproof allows you to thoroughly clean them with water when you take them out and notice that they are dirty. Thus, maintenance and cleanliness will be a breeze.
Difference Between Waterproof and Water Resistant Headphones
Some earbuds are listed as being
water resistant, while others are listed as
waterproof. Want to learn what differentiates them? Then read more about each type in the following lines.
- Waterproof: When wearing them, you can confidently submerge in water for 30 minutes or so, knowing that they will not be affected by the water. Of course, you must follow the instructions given in the manual that they come with – do not go deeper than it is recommended and do not stay longer than advised. Otherwise, the protective shield of the earbuds will suffer damage and they will lose their properties, even ceasing to function altogether in some cases.
- Water resistant These earbuds are indeed able to resist contact with water, meaning that they will not be irreparably damaged if they fall in the pool when you go swimming. On the other hand, that is all that they boast when it comes to protection against water damage. Unfortunately, they cannot be worn when swimming or doing intense exercises that cause excessive sweating as they are not designed to resist the contact with wet bodies.
Now that you know more about each type of earbuds, waterproof and water-resistant, it should be clear that waterproof models are the desirable option to go with when practicing swimming, intense workouts, or long running sessions, their resistance making them clearly superior. Sure, they might cost more, but it is money well spent considering the fact that you will be able to listen to music regardless of the circumstance.
Wondering
how you will benefit from making this acquisition? Do you doubt the necessity for earbuds that are water resistant? Then read the following lines to find out the advantages that these wearable devices come with so that you may understand why it is an investment you will not regret making but rather enjoy to its fullest.
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No Need to Keep the Phone Close to You
No matter the device that you have connected them through Bluetooth, whether it is a smartphone or a tablet, what is great is the fact that there won’t be a need to keep that specific streaming device in your proximity anymore. Seeing how you will probably wear them when you will be exercising or swimming, it would have been almost impossible to plug them in the device without destroying it anyway. This plug-free play is a dream come true for everyone, enhancing the convenience of listening to music under numerous circumstances.
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Listen to Music When You Swim
Whether you are training for swimming contests or doing it for leisure, with these earbuds you will be able to listen to music even in the pool. This can come as a great plus, especially if you are the type of person who needs to disconnect in order to reach your full potential. Obviously, you should check to not pass the amount of time recommended to keep them underwater to ensure that no damage will occur.
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Listen to Music When You Sweat
Working out and running are activities that cause people to sweat excessively. If you are a person who thrives to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, it is important for you to exercise daily and receive the needed rejuvenation. Classic earbuds might have done a rather decent job at allowing you to listen to music when performing these activities, but excessive sweat caused them damage. With waterproof models, this is not an issue at all, so you can confidently wear them regardless of how sweaty you get.
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Take Your Music In the Shower
Are you truly passionate about music? Then you probably feel bad when it is time to take a shower, the silence inside the cabin overwhelming you. With these earbuds, you are able to take your favorite music with you in the shower without any problems. The concerts you hold when you are bathing are going to become a lot more entertaining and spectacular now that you will actually hear the lyrics and feel the rhythm.
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As the wearable devices are specially designed for underwater use, they are capable of delivering a crisp, clear sound every time you use them, no matter what you are doing. When you are out of the water or when you are using them normally, not exercising or doing any physically demanding activity, the sound becomes even better, the quality blowing your mind. If you have ever owned regular earbuds, you will be stunned by the superiority of water-resistant models when it comes to the quality of the sound output.
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The shelf life of regular earbuds is short, but the same cannot be said about water resistant models, fortunately. The reason why these wearable devices last longer is precisely due to their superior resistance to water, basically, nothing affecting them. If you invest in earbuds that are dust resistant as well, the lifespan is sure to be even longer. What you must take away from this is the fact that due to their design, they are guaranteed to last a long time.
The IP code that is attributed to the earbuds is the main indicator of their quality. IP stands for Ingress Protection or International Protection, and it rates the protection that the earbuds – or other types of devices, like cameras, speakers, or mobile phones – have against water and dust. Obviously, the water resistance of the wearable is the most important aspect to look into as it is the reason why you are buying it in the first place – to listen to music underwater or when you are very sweaty.
The IP code is followed by two digits that show the conformity with predetermined conditions. When one of the digits is replaced with the letter X, it means that not enough data has been gathered in order for the product to be assigned with a certain protection level. As you can see, most of the products featured in our top have the first digit replaced with the letter X. This is due to the reason that they are not assigned a protection level against dust. But this is not an issue as we are only interested in the waterproof aspect with them.
A common trait of all the earbuds that we listed as being the best is the fact that the second digit in the IP rating is 7. This means that complete protection against water is provided as long as the submersion does not exceed 3 and a half feet and the duration of the submersion does not pass 30 minutes. Our choice for the number 1 spot, the Plantronics BackBeat FIT, is IP rated for protection against dust as well. Due to the fact that it received the 5 digit, it means that sufficient protection is offered to ensure that a normal ingress of dust will not affect their operation.
Tech and Features that Denote Headphones Quality
Making a pick is quite challenging as there are many elements that you must look into when making the purchase. Regardless of the budget that you set aside for buying the wearable device, you have to know right from the get-go that the quality of the product stands in its capability to resist water and sweat. Sure, the technologies and innovative features play an important role as well, but they are not the epicenter of the purchase but rather a bonus. This being said, let us move on to see what are the guidelines that need to be followed.
The first and foremost spec that you must look into is the IP code assigned to it. The importance of the IP code stands in the fact that it rates the protection against water, thus showing you how well the device will act as time passes if you use it when swimming or exercising. An IPX code of at least 7 is recommended – the reason why we recommend ignoring the first digit of the code is that it shows the protection against dust, which is irrelevant in this circumstance.
Battery Attributes – Charge Time, Talk Time, Listen Time
The second most important element that you must look into when making the purchase is the battery, more precisely its attributes. The most important specs to check when it comes to the battery that powers the earbuds are the amount of time that it takes for it to fully charge, the amount of time that you can talk on the phones using the device, and the amount of time that you can use the device if the only action you are doing with it is listening to music.
- Charge time: A quality device should feature a rechargeable battery that takes between 1 and 2 hours to fully charge. As you can see, all of the models featured in our top have a great charge time, meaning that you do not have to wait around too much until the earbuds can be used again if you go with any of these high-end devices.
- Talk time: The talk time represents the amount of time that the battery will last until it is fully depleted if you use the earbuds to answer calls. It is preferable for this spec to indicate a talk time of at least 6 hours in order to be sure that the investment you are making is a high-quality one.
- Listening time: The listening time that the battery puts at your disposal is probably the most important of these 3 specs as it shows for how long you will be able to continuously listen to music until the battery’s power depletes. Seeing how the main purpose of the wearable device is to allow you to enjoy music regardless of the environment that you are in and the activity you are performing, make sure that you pay extra attention to this specification. We recommend that you go for a model that offers a listen time of at least 8 hours.
The noise canceling technology that the high-end devices come with is more important than you could ever imagine as it basically blocks interfering external sounds. No matter the activity you are performing when wearing the earbuds, this is a must-have feature as it ensures you will be able to focus on your music and the music alone, not on the chattering of people around you. If you plan on training in the pool for a contest, for example, the feature comes in handy as it allows you to focus on improving your skills rather than have you distracted by others.
Convenient Volume Controls
The volume controls have to be located conveniently to make it easy for you to not only turn the volume up or down, but to mute the headphones, take calls, reject incoming calls, and so on. Do not take this element lightly as you might end up displeased with the way you have to operate the earbuds. Considering that the wearable device is a pretty generous investment, this is surely a risk that you cannot afford to take.
Rating and Ranking – How We Proceeded
In order to depict an accurate ranking, we had to ensure that each and every one of the products listed in it is judged fairly on their capabilities and advantages. Read this section of the article to learn everything there is to know about the way we rated our picks.
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Type: As you have already noticed, all of the models featured in our top boast a behind the ear design. Combined with their impressive and ergonomic manufacturing, they become incredibly comfortable to wear, even if you are going to use them for many hours each day.
Weight: The weight of the wearable devices is another point of interest as it shows how comfortable they will feel after prolonged use. As you can see, all of the earbuds in our top weigh between 0.03 pounds and 0.06 pounds, so they are truly lightweight, not inconveniencing you in any way.
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The rating received by the products is the element that we focused on the most. After all, these devices are meant to be worn in improper conditions that involve sweat or water, so their resistance to these elements is vital. All of the products that we listed in the top feature an IP 7 code for water, meaning that they can resist for approximately 30 minutes in water without any damage occurring.
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The amount of time that it takes for the battery to charge is another point of interest as it shows how much time you will waste not using the earbuds when the battery is depleted and it needs to be recharged. The shorter the charge time, the better, and as you can see, all of our products boast a battery charge time of maximum 2 hours.
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The listening time represents the amount of time that you can continuously listen to music when wearing the headphones before the battery’s power is depleted. The longer the listening time, the better, and from this point of view, the products that scored the most points are the TrendHolders A-1 and the Hussar Magicbuds2 that both deliver 12 hours of music without interruption.
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The wireless distance represents the maximum distance that you can keep from the device that is wirelessly transmitting music to the earbuds. It is best for the distance to be as long as possible so that you won’t have the unpleasant surprise of interrupting the connection when you’re doing laps in the swimming pool and you stray too far away from your smartphone, for example.
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The quick charge technology of the Plantronics BackBeat FIT is one of the features that impressed us the most as it gives you the possibility to enjoy an extra hour of music after a quick charge that lasts only 15 minutes. In the chaotic world that we live in, time is of the essence, reason why this feature comes in handy more than you could ever imagine.
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To make sure that you won’t end up forgetting to recharge the battery before you hit the gym or go on a long flight, the Alpatronix HX250 and the Edelin Edelin1 announce you of the battery’s state of power depletion through a LED indicator light. To put it in simple words, when the battery runs out of juice, the LED light announces you that it’s time to recharge.
